Adult school moves into new campus

Terrell Ticia no longer has to bounce from one place to another to take the four classes she hopes will lead to a career designing menswear.

The Golden Hill resident has found a home at the new West City campus in Midway, one of six continuing education centers that are part of the San Diego Community College District.

“Before we moved in here, it was really tight,” Ticia said. “There is a night-and-day difference.”

Instructors are happier, too. Kathleen Swanson used to call up Ticia and her classmates to see demonstrations of stitches. Now a camera zooms in on her hands to broadcast her maneuvers so the whole room can see them.

“It's made us move into the 21st century,” Swanson said.

Officials hosted a grand opening yesterday for the $18 million facility, located on Fordham Street south of Midway Drive.

It replaces four buildings, some more than 50 years old, including one designed as an elementary school with bathrooms set up for youngsters.

The new building is about 50 percent larger than the old complex and is equipped with two kitchens. One is for the center's professional cooking program, and another is set aside for community cooking classes.

Bond measures in 2002 and 2006 raised more than $1.55 billion for projects such as the one at West City. Another renovation, of the Educational Cultural Complex in Mountain View, is near completion. There are plans for a large, new complex in Barrio Logan to replace two smaller centers.

Along with fashion, the West City campus will focus on hospitality and consumer science, with classes in culinary arts, business technology and parenting. There also will be a program for seniors.

Center officials began designing it five years ago with faculty and community members. In one unique touch, an interior multipurpose room can be transformed into a makeshift amphitheater, courtesy of a large garagelike door that opens onto the parking lot.